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LOS ANGELES - The UCLA men’s and women’s basketball teams hosted the sixth annual Dribble for the Cure on campus in Westwood on Sunday morning.

Both Bruin basketball programs teamed with UCLA basketball alumnus John Vallely, the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) and the Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA Cancer Research Program and Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology for the event aimed to raise funds and awareness in the fight against pediatric cancers.

Participants at the annual event bring a basketball and dribble through a 1.2 mile course on UCLA’s campus, beginning at Drake Stadium. Proceeds from Dribble for the Cure help sustain the research to benefit the children’s cancer treatment at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA.

Sunday’s event marked the third Dribble for the Cure for head women’s basketball coach Cori Close and the first for head men’s basketball coach Steve Alford.

Later that afternoon, the men’s basketball team hosted a two-hour open practice in Pauley Pavilion, available free of admission to all fans. Basketball players remained on the court for 20 minutes after the event, posing for photos with fans and autographing team posters.

The UCLA men’s basketball team will open its regular season against Drexel on Friday, Nov. 8. The women’s basketball team begins its regular season at Nebraska on Nov. 8.